Cricket

Former Indian opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has expressed his displeasure over the reasons given by India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar for not appointing Hardik Pandya as the T20I captain. Agarkar had cited Pandya's injury history and uncertain availability as the primary reasons for overlooking him for the captaincy role.Srikkanth, however, believes that fitness should not have been a factor in the decision-making process. He pointed out that Pandya played the entire IPL season and bowled regularly, despite Mumbai Indians' failure to qualify for the playoffs. He also highlighted Pandya's performance as vice-captain during India's T20 World Cup triumph last month."Fitness is something that I will not agree with," Srikkanth said. "He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That's another issue. Mumbai Indians didn't qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well."Srikkanth also criticized the selectors for not being transparent about their decision. He believes they should have clearly stated that they were dropping Pandya as captain and moving forward with Suryakumar Yadav as a long-term option."The reasons that they are giving they could have said it in a straightforward manner 'we are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain, we want to move forward. We are looking at Suryakumar as a long term'. Make it clear. Say it without fear," he added.Agarkar, on the other hand, maintained that fitness was a major concern for the selectors. He explained that they wanted someone who was likely to be available more consistently."Fitness has been something that he's struggled with," Agarkar said. "As selectors, it becomes difficult then. The thought behind it was that we want someone who is likely to be available more."Agarkar also praised Suryakumar's fitness level and positive feedback from the team management as key factors in his selection as captain."Why Surya was made captain? Because he is one of the deserving candidates. The one we know has been around the dressing room over the last one year, you get feedback from the dressing room a lot. He has got a good cricketing brain and he is still one of the best T20 batters in the world," he said.

West Indies Lose Jeremiah Louis to Hamstring Injury, Akeem Jordan Called Up for Final TestWest Indies' hopes of salvaging a draw in the ongoing Test series against England have been dealt a blow with the news that fast bowler Jeremiah Louis has been ruled out of the final match due to a hamstring injury.Louis, who did not feature in the first two Tests, sustained the injury during the second Test at Trent Bridge. The 25-year-old will remain with the squad for further treatment, but his absence leaves a significant void in the West Indies bowling attack.To fill the void, West Indies have opted for a like-for-like replacement, bringing in Akeem Jordan. The 23-year-old pacer was playing cricket in the UK at the time of his call-up and has already joined the squad.Jordan, who is yet to make his Test debut, has impressed in first-class cricket, taking 67 wickets in 19 matches since 2022 at an average of 24.10. His performances include two five-wicket hauls, with a best innings haul of 5 for 44.Apart from Jordan, West Indies have Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, and all-rounder Jason Holder as their seam-bowling options in the squad. However, the visitors face an uphill task in the third Test, trailing 2-0 in the series and having already conceded the Richards-Botham Trophy.West Indies lost the first Test at Lord's by an innings and 114 runs and then suffered a 241-run defeat at Trent Bridge last week. The third and final Test gets underway on Friday, July 26, at Edgbaston.

Kapil Dev's Emotional Message to Anshuman Gaekwad: 'Don't Let Us Down'Former India cricket captain Kapil Dev has shared an emotional video message for Anshuman Gaekwad, who is battling cancer. Kapil's message comes after he urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to provide financial assistance to Anshuman, who was struggling to arrange funds for his treatment.In his message, Kapil recalled the good times he shared with Anshuman on the cricket field. He remembered Anshuman's captaincy and his impressive double century against Pakistan in Jalandhar. Kapil urged Anshuman to continue his fight against cancer, reminding him of his fighting spirit on the field."I know you are going through a rough time, but it doesn't matter, we have all gone through rough times in life," Kapil said. "Difficult times come and go, but I know that you are a fighter. Come on, cheer up and try to live a life, whatever God has given you."Kapil acknowledged that everyone has to leave this world one day, but he encouraged Anshuman to keep fighting. "We all have to go one day, but the best part about human beings is fighting it out the way you fight it out on the cricket field," he said.Kapil expressed his love and support for Anshuman, saying that the entire cricket community was proud of him. He promised to celebrate with Anshuman once he recovers."We had a good time. You just look after yourself. It doesn't matter whatever happened, it happened for good, and I think you are a wonderful person," Kapil said. "We had great stories to talk about. We have a lot to talk about, but firstly you need to get well soon. We will have coffee together and if nothing, then we can have a little drink together as well."

India's T20I Captaincy: Hardik Pandya's Gesture Eases Concerns Over Leadership DynamicsAs India's captaincy in the shortest format remains a topic of discussion, the relationship between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya has come under scrutiny. However, a recent gesture by Pandya has allayed concerns over any potential rift within the team.Before the T20I captaincy was handed over to Yadav, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that Pandya had been consulted. Despite this, questions lingered about the leadership dynamics in the team.However, Pandya's warm embrace of Yadav as they departed for Sri Lanka for a white-ball series has put such talks to rest. The video shared by the BCCI captured the moment, showcasing a genuine bond between the two players.Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media at a joint press conference, explaining the rationale behind Yadav's appointment as captain. Agarkar emphasized Yadav's cricketing acumen, consistency as a T20 batter, and proven fitness record."We wanted a captain who's going to be more likely to play all the games," Agarkar said. "We think he's a deserving candidate and hopefully we'll see over time how he develops into the role."Agarkar also confirmed that Pandya remains a crucial part of the Indian team in the white-ball circuit. "He's still a very important player for us," Agarkar said. "We're trying to now, we've got a bit more time till the next T20 World Cup when we can look at a few things."Pandya's fitness has been a concern in the past, and Agarkar acknowledged this factor in the decision-making process. "The fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who's likely to be available more often than not," Agarkar said.The gesture between Pandya and Yadav suggests that the leadership transition has been handled smoothly and that the team remains united under Yadav's captaincy. As India prepares for the upcoming white-ball series in Sri Lanka, the focus will be on Yadav's performance as captain and the team's overall performance under his leadership.

Viv Richards and Carl Hooper have vehemently denounced claims made by Brian Lara in his autobiography, "Lara: The England Chronicles." Lara alleged that Richards intimidated players on the West Indies cricket team, causing Hooper to cry "once a week."In a joint statement, Richards and Hooper expressed their dismay at the "gross misrepresentations" in Lara's book, which they believe distort their off-field relationship. They categorically deny Lara's assertion that Richards was aggressive towards Hooper, causing him emotional distress."Such descriptions paint Sir Vivian as a perpetrator of emotional abuse – an assertion that is not only baseless but also deeply hurtful to both parties," the statement reads.Richards, Hooper's first captain, has always been a supportive mentor, according to the statement. Their nearly 40-year relationship is built on mutual respect and camaraderie.The statement demands a public retraction and apology from Lara for the harm caused by his false claims. "It is crucial for the integrity of public discourse and their personal and professional lives that the truth is set right," it adds.Lara's allegations have sparked controversy and raised questions about the culture within the West Indies cricket team. Richards and Hooper's response highlights the importance of addressing such issues and ensuring a respectful and supportive environment for all players.

The West Indies fast bowlers have left an indelible mark on the annals of cricket, leaving a trail of broken bones and shattered dreams in their wake. One of the most iconic images in the sport is that of England's Mike Gatting, his nose shattered by a delivery from the legendary Malcolm Marshall.Marshall's pace was so fearsome that he once found a piece of bone embedded in the ball after bowling a delivery. Three days later, another West Indian fast bowler, Patrick Patterson, claimed four wickets on his Test debut, helping his team to a crushing 10-wicket victory. It was the first time in history that a team had lost 5-0 after just one Test.Generations of West Indian fast bowlers have terrorized batters with their raw pace and relentless aggression. Michael Holding's over to England's Geoff Boycott in Barbados in 1981 is widely regarded as the fiercest and finest in Test cricket history. Boycott was beaten by the first five balls, and the sixth prised his off stump out of the ground.In the days when such things were allowed, it was a thrilling spectacle to stand behind the nets and witness the sheer pace of the West Indian bowlers. Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, and Joel Garner were among the most feared bowlers of their era.By far the fastest bowler I ever saw was Patterson, who tore apart the England batting lineup in a 5-0 Test series win. His pace was frightening, and my respect for batters like Sunil Gavaskar and Graham Gooch went up manifold."I knew if I got hit by any of his deliveries, I could die on the spot," said Krishnamahcari Srikkanth, who faced Patterson bravely in Sharjah and in home series. "I survived only because of my reflexes."There are few more thrilling sights on a cricket field than a fast bowler in flow. It appeals to something primal in us, affording us a glimpse of something refined for modern sensibilities. None of us likes fast bowling, said an English batter, but some of us don't let on. Opening batters are natural fits on psychiatrist's couches; to be unaffected requires the kind of mind and skill not available to all.Former England opener Steve James once said, "I was scared of fast bowling. Or to be precise, I was scared of being hurt by fast bowling. I am pretty sure many other batters had similar feelings, but how many admit it?"The death of Australian Phil Hughes from a bouncer in a first-class game has made the reaction to fast bowling more rooted in common sense and openness. In general, as studies have shown, a batter has 0.6 seconds to work out the line of the ball, figure out its likely course, decide on the stroke, and then for the limbs to receive that information from the brain before a stroke is played. Speed often defeats reactions, as fast bowler John Snow said.However you look at it, a West Indies batter reminding an English fast bowler of those waiting at home is simply delightful!

Oval Invincibles, the two-time Hundred champions, kicked off the fourth season of the tournament with a dominant 45-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix. Paige Scholfield, batting at the top of the order in place of Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, led the charge with a sparkling 71.Scholfield and England's Alice Capsey formed a formidable partnership, putting on 90 runs for the second wicket. Capsey contributed 52 runs, and the duo shared 17 boundaries. Their explosive batting threatened to set a new record in the Hundred women's competition.However, a flurry of late wickets slowed down the Invincibles' progress. Nevertheless, they set a challenging target of 150 runs for Birmingham Phoenix.The Phoenix's chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets with just 32 runs on the board. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Birmingham local Amy Jones offered some resistance, but the Invincibles' bowling attack proved too strong.Australian legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets for just nine runs. Her economical spell helped restrict the Phoenix to 105 runs, securing a comfortable 45-run victory for the Invincibles.Scholfield, named the Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her delight at her performance. She credited her success to the support of Lauren Winfield-Hill and her trust in her own abilities.The Invincibles' victory sets the tone for the upcoming Hundred season, showcasing the exciting and competitive nature of the tournament.

Mohammed Shami, one of India's premier fast bowlers, has faced significant challenges both on and off the field. Despite being India's leading wicket-taker in the last three ODI World Cups, his personal life has been marred by controversy.Shami's tumultuous separation from his wife, Hasin Jahan, made headlines when she filed a police complaint against him for domestic violence. She also accused him of match-fixing after allegedly receiving money from a Pakistani woman.While Shami was cleared of these allegations by authorities, his friend and fellow cricketer Umesh Kumar revealed on a podcast that Shami contemplated suicide during that time."Shami was shattered when the fixing allegations broke out," said Kumar. "He said he could tolerate anything but not accusations of betraying his country."Kumar recalled an incident where he found Shami standing on the balcony of their 19th-floor apartment at 4 AM. "I understood what was happening," said Kumar. "That night was the longest of Shami's career."Shami later received a clean chit from the investigating committee, which brought him immense relief. "He was probably happier that day than he would have been if he had won a World Cup," added Kumar.Shami himself opened up about his struggles during that period. "When you know the other person's actions are invalid, you should not leave your priorities," he said. "If I had not been the Mohammed Shami I am today, no one would have cared about my situation."Shami's resilience and determination have been instrumental in his recovery. He has continued to perform at the highest level, proving that even in the face of adversity, one can overcome challenges and achieve success.

India vs Nepal: Women's Asia Cup 2024 Match PreviewIndia will face Nepal in their third match of the Women's Asia Cup 2024 on Tuesday, July 23, at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. The match will commence at 7:00 PM IST.India has had a strong start to the tournament, defeating United Arab Emirates by 78 runs and arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets. They will be aiming for their third consecutive victory against Nepal.Nepal, on the other hand, has had a mixed start. They defeated UAE in their opening game but lost to Pakistan in their second match. They will be looking to bounce back and secure a win against India.Key Players to Watch:* India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur* Nepal: Rubina Chhetry, Sita Rana Magar, Indu BarmaMatch Prediction:India is the clear favorite to win this match. They have a more experienced and talented squad, and they have been in good form in the tournament so far. Nepal will need to play out of their skins to pull off an upset.Live Streaming and Telecast:The India vs Nepal match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network. It will also be streamed live on Hotstar.Conclusion:The India vs Nepal match promises to be an exciting contest. India will be looking to continue their winning streak, while Nepal will be aiming to cause an upset. With both teams having something to prove, the match is likely to be a close and competitive affair.